The Pay Equity Coalition stands alongside the three Ministry of Education support workers in their negotiations for equal pay which began today.

“Rest Home Worker Kristine Bartlett, in union with thousands of other aged care workers, have paved the way for equal pay in New Zealand. This new claim takes another historic step using the mechanisms from the new pay equity principles,” says Coalition spokesperson Angela McLeod.

“Three Ministry of Education support workers together in union with NZEI are calling on the Government to make good on their commitment to equal pay by accepting their claim that they are being underpaid because they are women.”

“These education support workers already have a comparator which was agreed by the Pay & Employment Equity Unit of the Department of Labour in 2007 – the Government needs to honour that agreement.”

“Education support workers are highly skilled and support the most vulnerable of our children who need special care due to their physical and behavioural needs. it’s unjust they’re not paid the same as others with similar skill sets.”